Revenge of Reborn Villainess

The next morning, Sella was summoned to Kallian’s office, visibly tense.

Duke Kallian Klaus, with a stoic expression on his chiseled face, was in the midst of signing documents.

After a while, he finally looked up to gaze at Sella.

His stern lips parted, “I called you today to investigate the Duchess’s misdeeds.”

“…”

Sella knew why she was here.

The fact that Kallian himself was conducting the investigation indicated that there was no intention to easily cover up the matter.

Eshika had warned her.

They would try to subdue her as she became more bothersome to them.

Kallian spoke,

“There are rumors circulating about the Duchess mistreating the maids, and the best of them had written resignation letters, and my mother barely managed to resolve the issue.”

His eyebrows furrowed.

While the Eshika didn’t seem to punish the other maids as harshly as Yurie, the resignation letters were clear evidence of Eshika’s misdeeds.

Of course Eshika was the Duchess, and they were mere maids, so they had no right to question her actions.

Still, perhaps Kalian or the late Duchess could have reprimanded her for being so unruly and domineering.

Even if she pretended not to notice, the injuries on Yurie’s leg were undeniable evidence of her brutality.

“I heard that you spend the entire day with the Duchess.”

“…Yes.”

Sella nodded slightly, her lips trembling. Her anxious appearance only added to Kallian’s certainty.

This girl, too, was undoubtedly suffering from Eshika’s abuse.

“Tell me about how she treats you.”

Kallian raised his quill pen.

“…”

But Sella didn’t open her mouth.

Ten seconds, twenty seconds, a minute passed, and the silence hung heavy.

Kallian arched an eyebrow and turned back to Sella.

“Whatever you say, there will be no penalty. Just answer honestly. I’ll transfer you to another duty station.”

“Your Highness.”

Sella opened her mouth, her face stiff.

Sella’s mind flashed back to the threat she’d received from Yurie earlier.

“Tell Eshika she’s being beaten like a dog. If you say anything stupid, your…… family will not be safe.”

Sella’s clenched fist trembled slightly.

“Before I tell ……, will you promise me one thing?”

Kallian leaned in, listening attentively.

***

Among the flowers in full bloom in the royal garden, a white butterfly fluttered, dancing gracefully through the air.

Seated on a long chair, Lesvan was polishing his sword.

With each stroke on the tightly woven fabric, the blade of his longsword gleamed, capturing the essence of the world.

The white butterfly landed on Lesvan’s hand.

Suddenly, he felt as if he could hear the voice of a certain girl.

Lesvan’s lips formed a bittersweet smile, but it soon faded away.

Did the white butterfly know whose hand it had chosen?

After teetering uncertainty for a moment, the butterfly gracefully fluttered away from his hand.

Lesvan chose not to catch it.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, summoned you,”

The attendant said as he approached after a while, bowing respectfully at the waist.

The attendant had been by Lesvan’s side since he was a young boy.

Lesvan, still focused on his well-polished sword, spoke, “Do you remember the time I sent you to Freehatz ten years ago?”

The attendant, taken aback by the question, lowered his gaze before responding,

“Yes… I do.”

“If you had investigated thoroughly, you wouldn’t have reported false information.”

The chill in Lesvan’s voice sent shivers down the attendant’s spine.

Lesvan continued examining his well-polished sword. If his thoughts strayed for even a moment, the blade would mercilessly shower the world with his blood.

“Apologies, Your Highness.”

“I knew you were aware,”

Lesvan said, gazing at the attendant with a stern expression.

“Even though you knew, reporting her death was not just the will of a mere attendant.”

The attendant trembled, his hands shaking.